Fluid connector

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a fluid connector, comprising a shaft having at least one solid shaft element and a plurality of connector surfaces, wherein the plurality of connector surfaces includes a surface with a plurality of threads and a plurality of grooves.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to connectors for fluid distributionsystems, and particularly to fluid connectors used to distribute fluidsunder pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Fluid connectors are known in the art and are referred to as“flow bolts” or “flow bolt assemblies.” Such devices in the prior artare typically fabricated with external threads and an internal cavitythrough which fluid flows. Examples of such flow bolts are shown in U.S.Pat. No. 5,011,192 to Campo, entitled “Bolt Retaining Hydraulic EndFitting Assembly.” However, such flow bolts are weaker connectorsbecause they ate made with an internal cavity.

[0003] The present invention is directed to overcoming this and otherdisadvantages inherent in prior-art systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The scope of the present invention is defined solely by theappended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statementswithin this summary. Briefly stated, a fluid connector, comprising ashaft having at least one solid shaft element and a plurality ofconnector surfaces, wherein the plurality of connector surfaces includesa surface with a plurality of threads and a plurality of grooves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a fluid connector.

[0006]FIG. 2 depicts the bottom view of the preferred embodiment of afluid connector.

[0007]FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of a fluid connector.

[0008]FIG. 4 depicts a view of the outside of a second embodiment of afluid connector.

[0009]FIG. 5 depicts a third embodiment of a fluid connector.

[0010]FIG. 6 depicts a fourth embodiment of a fluid connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a fluidconnector 10 constituting a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The fluid connector 10 is composed of a metal, preferablyaluminum. According to one aspect of the present invention, the metal iscopper. According to another aspect of the present invention, the metalis iron.

[0012] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the metal is analloy. According to one aspect of the present invention, the metalincludes ferrous and non-ferrous materials. According to another aspectof the present invention, the metal is a steel. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate that steel is in a plurality of formulations, such asstainless steel. According to one embodiment of the present inventionthe steel is a low carbon steel. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, the steel is a medium carbon steel. According to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention, the steel is a high carbon steel.

[0013] Those with skill in the art will also appreciate that the metalis a super alloy. According to one aspect of the present invention, thesuper alloy is bronze; according to another aspect of the presentinvention, the super alloy is a high nickel material. According to yetanother aspect of the present invention, the fluid connector 10 iscomposed of martensitic material. According to still another aspect ofthe present invention, the fluid connector 10 is composed of austeniticmaterial. According to another aspect of the present invention, themetal is a ferritic material.

[0014] The fluid connector 10 includes a shaft 20. The shaft 20 iscomposed of at least one of a plurality of shaft elements. According toone aspect of the present invention, the shaft element is cylindrical inshape. According to another aspect of the present invention, the shaftelement is conical in shape. According to yet another aspect of thepresent invention, the shaft element is solid. According to stillanother aspect of the present invention, the shaft element is hollow.

[0015]FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomposed of a plurality of shaft elements. The shaft 20 includes anupper cylindrical shaft element 21, a lower cylindrical shaft element22, and a conical shaft element 23. In the preferred embodiment, theupper cylindrical shaft element 21 is joined to the lower cylindricalshaft element 22 via the conical shaft element 23.

[0016] The fluid connector 10 of the present invention is provided witha plurality of connector surfaces. According to one aspect of thepresent invention, the connector surface is an unthreaded surface 30.According to another aspect of the present invention, the connectorsurface is a surface composed of a plurality of threads 40. According toyet another aspect of the present invention, the connector surface is asurface composed of at least one groove 50. According to yet anotheraspect of the present invention, the connector surface is a surfacecomposed of a plurality of threads 40 and at least one groove 50.

[0017]FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomposed of a plurality of connector surfaces. FIG. 2 depicts a bottomview of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the shaft 20 provides a suitable location for atleast one of the plurality of connector surfaces. The lower cylindricalshaft element 22 of the preferred embodiment includes a plurality ofthreads 40 and a plurality of grooves 50. The upper cylindrical shaftelement 21 and the conical shaft element 23 of the preferred embodimentprovide an unthreaded surface 30. FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of theshaft 20.

[0018] The connector surfaces of the present invention perform aplurality of functions. In the preferred embodiment, the surfacecomposed of a plurality of threads 40 functions to couple the fluidconnector 10 to another structure. This function is accomplished throughthe interaction of the plurality of threads 40 and the cooperatingthreads of another structure (not shown).

[0019] In the preferred embodiment, the surface composed of at least onegroove 50 functions to channel fluid from one end of the shaft 20 to theother. In the preferred embodiment, this function is accomplishedthrough channeling fluid through at least one groove 50. In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the groove 50 functionsto channel fluid.

[0020] The present invention is fabricated through a plurality ofprocesses. According to one aspect of the present invention, the fluidconnector 10 is machined. According to another aspect of the presentinvention, the fluid connector 10 is hot formed or forged. According toyet another aspect of the present invention, the fluid connector 10 isfabricated through casting. The preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is cold formed (also known as “cold head”).

[0021] The process of cold forming the preferred embodiment begins witha metal wire or metal rod which is drawn to size. After being drawn tosize, the wire or rod is upset by being run through a series of dies orextrusions. After the wire or rod is run through a series of dies orextrusions, the wire or rod has been changed to a semi-formed state. Inthe semi-formed state, the metal is rolled so that a surface with atleast one groove 50 is formed. In the preferred embodiment, a pluralityof grooves 50 are rolled into the shaft 20 so that they form a spiral.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of grooves 50can be fabricated so that they are straight and do not form a spiraland, furthermore, that a plurality of grooves can be fabricated to forma spiral of any degree.

[0022] While the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 illustrates agroove 50 fabricated through rolling, those skilled in the art willappreciate that a groove may be fabricated in other ways, and the grooveof the present invention is not limited to a groove fabricated throughrolling. As used herein, a groove is any structure which allows forfluid flow on a connector surface.

[0023] After a plurality of grooves 50 has been impressed into thesurface, a surface with a plurality of threads 40 is formed through asimilar rolling process. In the preferred embodiment, threads are rolledto half the depth of the plurality of grooves 50. However, those skilledin the art will appreciate that the groove and the threads can be madethrough machining or drilling with a different ratio of relative depths.Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the presentinvention can be threaded and then rolled with a groove.

[0024] The presently preferred embodiment includes a torque transferringstructure 60. As used herein, a torque transferring structure is anystructure which allows a torque to be transferred to the presentinvention. The torque transferring structure 60 of the preferredembodiment cooperates with the surface with threads 40 to tighten orloosen the connection between the present invention and anotherstructure. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, thetorque transferring structure 60 is a polygonal cap. Alternatively, thetorque transferring structure 60 is a recessed area 61, such as will fita screw driver.

[0025] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that torque istransferred via a plurality of structures and that any such structurecan be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention.Any structure which allows a torque to be transferred to the presentinvention is a torque transferring structure within the scope of thepresent invention.

[0026]FIG. 3 depicts the hollow shaft element of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention. In the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 3, a surface with a plurality of threads 40 defines an innersection 24 which accommodates a threaded rod 25. Within the surface witha plurality of threads 40, a groove 50 is provided through which fluidflows. As depicted in FIG. 3, the alternative embodiment is preferablyprovided with a torque transferring structure 60, which is in the formof a roughened gripping surface 62. However, as noted above, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that torque may be transferredthrough other structures, such as a recessed area 61, as depicted inFIG. 4. FIG. 4 depicts the outer surface 26 of the hollow shaft elementof the alternative embodiment of the present invention with analternative torque transferring structure 60.

[0027]FIG. 5 depicts a second alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a surface with a plurality ofthreads 40 defines an inner section 24 which accommodates a threadedrod. Within the surface with a plurality of threads 40, a groove isprovided through which fluid flows. In the alternative embodimentdepicted in FIG. 5, an opening 27 is provided which accommodates a fluidconveying structure, such as a nozzle (not shown). Those skilled in theart will appreciate that the opening 27 may be defined in the outersurface 26. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the inner section 24 accommodatesa threaded rod.

[0028]FIG. 6 depicts a third alternative embodiment of the presentinvention configured as a coupler 11. The coupler 11 depicted in FIG. 6is composed of an outer surface 26 and a surface with a plurality ofthreads 40 which defines an inner section 24. The inner section 24accommodates at least one threaded rod 25, preferably two threaded rods.Within the threaded surface 40, a groove 50 is provided through whichfluid flows. As depicted in FIG. 6, the coupler 11 is preferablyprovided with a torque transferring structure 60.

[0029] While this invention has been particularly shown and describedwith references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid connector, comprising: a) a shaft havingat least one solid shaft element and a plurality of connector surfaces,wherein the plurality of connector surfaces includes a surface with aplurality of threads and a plurality of grooves.
 2. A fluid connectoraccording to claim 1, wherein at least one groove is formed in the shapeof a spiral.
 3. A fluid connector according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of connector surfaces includes a surface with at least fourgrooves.
 4. A fluid connector according to claim 1, wherein the shaft isfabricated through cold forming.
 5. A fluid connector according to claim1, wherein the shaft is composed of solid shaft elements.
 6. A fluidconnector according to claim 1, wherein the shaft includes at least onehollow shaft element.
 7. A fluid connector according to claim 1, furthercomprising a torque transferring structure, wherein the torquetransferring structure allows a torque to be transferred to the shaft.8. A fluid connector, comprising: a) a hollow shaft having an outersurface and a surface with a plurality of threads and a plurality ofgrooves defining an inner section, wherein the inner sectionaccommodates a rod.
 9. A fluid connector according to claim 8, whereinat least one groove is formed in the shape of a spiral.
 10. A fluidconnector according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of connectorsurfaces includes a surface with at least four grooves.
 11. A fluidconnector according to claim 8, further comprising a torque transferringstructure, wherein the torque transferring structure allows a torque tobe transferred to the shaft.
 12. A fluid connector, comprising: a) ashaft having a plurality of solid shaft elements and a plurality ofconnector surfaces, wherein the plurality of connector surfaces includesa surface with a plurality of threads and a plurality of grooves; and b)a torque transferring structure, wherein the torque transferringstructure allows a torque to be transferred to the shaft.
 13. A fluidconnector according to claim 12, wherein at least one groove is formedin the shape of a spiral.
 14. A fluid connector according to claim 12,wherein the plurality of connector surfaces includes a surface with atleast four grooves.
 15. A fluid connector according to claim 12, whereinthe shaft is fabricated through cold forming.
 16. A fluid connectoraccording to claim 12, wherein the shaft is composed of solid shaftelements.
 17. A fluid connector according to claim 12, wherein the shaftincludes at least one hollow shaft element.
 18. A fluid connectoraccording to claim 12, wherein the plurality of connector surfacesincludes a surface with at least four grooves in the shape of a spiral.19. A fluid connector according to claim 12, wherein the plurality ofconnector surfaces includes a surface with at least two grooves in theshape of a spiral.
 20. A fluid connector according to claim 12, whereinthe torque transferring structure is a polygonal cap.